Barcelona to appeal judge's ruling

Barcelona will appeal against a ruling by a Spanish judge that star forward Neymar and members of the club's hierarchy should face trial on corruption charges.

Judge Jose de la Mata of Spain's High Court said on Monday that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell should stand trial alongside Neymar and his parents on charges relating to the Brazilian's 2013 transfer from Santos.

Barcelona published a response on their website on Monday evening, saying: "The board of directors have decided to appeal against the interlocutory judgement made by judge Jose de la Mata in Madrid."

Brazilian investment group DIS, which owned 40 per cent of Neymar's sporting rights while he was at Santos, has complained it received less than it was owed from the deal as the full size of the transfer fee was allegedly concealed.

The case was dismissed in July, before Spain's Supreme Court ordered it be reopened in September. The accused deny any wrongdoing.

Neymar, 24, joined Barcelona from Santos in 2013, with Bartomeu saying the transfer fee was 57million euros.